Online memes erupt as Stephen A Smith claims he "would've immediately swung" LeBron in case of a physical fight

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith has never been one to hold back, but his latest claim about NBA legend LeBron James has sent the internet into a frenzy. In a recent discussion, Smith said that if LeBron ever tried to get physical with him, he would’ve “immediately swung.” See it here in @LegionHoops's tweet, who shared Stephen A.'s quote:

“If that man would’ve put his hands on me. I would’ve immediately swung on him. Immediately.” 😳

Yep, you read that right. Smith, known for his fiery takes, didn’t mince words as he unleashed this bold (and slightly hilarious) statement. Naturally, the Twitterverse had a lot to say, with memes erupting left and right, imagining what a fight between the talk show host and "The King" would look like.

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Twitter roasts Stephen A. Smith after his bold claim about fighting LeBron sends the internet into a meme frenzy

Once the comment hit the internet, fans were quick to let their imaginations run wild, and their tweets were as entertaining as you’d expect.

@DABABYCRABBERS posted,

“How it would’ve gone if Stephen A. swung on him,” alongside a hilarious clip from Jumanji, where Kevin Hart’s character tries to punch Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Spoiler: The Rock barely feels it, but when he retaliates, Hart’s character is on the ground.

@_zaiire_ captioned a meme with

“Weak ass punches 😭,” paired with a clip of someone throwing the least threatening punches imaginable.

Fans didn’t stop there, though. Another tweet by @twodoorluca read,

“Stephen A. Smith if LeBron flicked him with his off-hand pinky,” featuring a GIF of someone dramatically sliding across the floor after being hit.

@CaylaMonacoF1 added to the roast with a clip of a knockout punch from a boxing match, saying,

“Meanwhile, The King…”

But the cap doesn’t stop there. A meme of Squidward blowing cap emojis out of his nose was the ultimate response to Smith’s claim, with fans (like @psosi27) calling it all lies.

For anyone who doesn’t know, "cap" in Gen Z slang means “lie,” and they weren’t buying what Stephen A. was selling.

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The Stephen A. and LeBron relationship

So, where did all this talk about throwing punches come from? The infamous declaration occurred during a heated segment where Stephen A. was critiquing LeBron’s legacy and competitiveness. The conversation turned hypothetical when Smith discussed the scenario of LeBron putting hands on him. Smith, as bold as ever, claimed he wouldn’t have hesitated to retaliate.

Interestingly, Smith has had a complex relationship with LeBron over the years. While he’s praised LeBron’s work ethic and skill, he’s also never shied away from giving harsh critiques, especially when it comes to comparing him to other basketball greats like Michael Jordan. Smith’s larger-than-life persona, combined with his history of calling out LeBron, makes the idea of him "swinging" at the 6’9" basketball legend even more outlandish. Let’s be real—most people know how that fight would turn out, and Twitter was quick to let Stephen know exactly that.

Whether it’s been supportive or critical, Stephen’s takes on LeBron have always gotten attention. But, imagining the ESPN host trying to square up with "The King" might be his most entertaining commentary yet.